FEATURED ARTICLES ABOUT FAIR QUEEN - PAGE 2

Mother Nature didn't do the Plainfield Farmers Fair any favors Friday night, but kind humans cleared more than a dozen trees toppled in a violent thunderstorm in time for Tuesday's opening night. Electricians worked double-time to repair damaged wiring. Other volunteers raked and swept the place into shape for the 49th annual edition that runs through Saturday. Most cleanup help wasn't recruited. "They just showed up on their own, for the most part," said fair President Susan Hahn.

The Allentown Fair is looking for "lucky" young ladies and other talented young persons to enter two contests to be held during the fair, Aug. 28-Sept. 3. Contestants are sought for "Miss Allentown Fair," the official hostess of the 1984 fair, and for the "Talent Showcase," a youth competition to be held at the Farmerama Theater at 1 p.m. Sept. 2. In addition to reigning over all the fair events, the Fair Queen will win a $150 cash award and trophy. Candidates are judged on poise, personality and appearance.

Fourteen contestants will vie for the Miss Allentown Fair title immediately after the fair's opening ceremonies Tuesday at the Farmerama Theater. The winner will be official hostess for the 135th exposition, running Sept. 1-7. Contestants, selected from a field of 22 applicants who were interviewed last week, will gather for dinner at 5 p.m. at the Columbian Home where they will meet with the judges for the first portion of the contest. At the fairgrounds Farmerama Theater they will be judged on poise, personality and appearance and their original essay or poem on the topic "I'm Lucky."

Taking advantage of free admission and cool weather, an estimated 60,000 people yesterday jammed the preview of the 1988 Allentown Fair that featured selection of the fair queen, women's mud wrestling and a roaring demolition derby on the racetrack. "It rained hard and steadily on Monday, and we were watching the weather with some concern. But it turned nice at 10 o'clock this morning and it was a beautiful day. Tonight's weather? You can't top it," said Ed Charles, general manager and chairman of the fair's executive committee.

The skills in the barn will be mingled with the skills in the fields, the gardens, the orchards, the kitchen and the sewing room when the Blue Valley Farm Show opens tomorrow at the Fair Grounds on Route 512 between Bangor and Pen Argyl. Visitors will be able to see prize-winning cattle and sheep. They will tour the buildings where fruits, vegetables and grains are displayed. They will see handmade quilts, dresses and suits, as well as embroidery, crocheting and knitting. Sponsored by the Bangor Exchange Club, the fair will continue through Saturday, with judging, entertainment and dinners planned.

Some Phillipsburg businesses will soon be up for sale for $15. For that incredibly low price, buyers can wheel and deal for local stores and offices. The sales are made possible through a real estate board game, The Game of Phillipsburg, featuring Phillipsburg area businesses and professionals. It is being sold by Boy Scout Troop 51, based in the town. Area business owners and professionals can pay a one-time advertising fee to put them on the board by responding to a recent mailing.

From the sweet fragrance of funnel cakes to the soft bleat of baby lambs to the heavy-metal thrill of the demolition derby, the eighth annual Carbon County Fair, which will run Wednesday through next Sunday at the fairgrounds along Little Gap Road in Lower Towamensing Township, promises to be the biggest and best yet. The fair will be open 3 to 11 p.m. each day. General admission is $4. "Last year's fair was our record year," said fair President Robert...

When you go to the Carbon County Fair, you want to use up all your time eating, watching the entertainment and riding the rides -- especially if you buy the specials that let you get on as many rides as you can for a limited time. But here are a few other highlights during the eighth annual fair's five-day run that you should take in while resting your stomach -- from the food or the rides. And most of them are free. Opening ceremonies The opening ceremony will again include recognition of the families of servicemen and servicewomen ---- this year specifically of those serving in Iraq.

Dinah Rush could be heard giving instructions to riders as they put their horses in place yesterday at the Warren County Farmers Fair. Rush, coordinator of the First Warren County Drill Team and the 15 or so 4-H horse club members were rehearsing for their big part in last night's ceremonies officially kicking off five days of farmers displaying the fruits, vegetables and livestock of their labor. The weeklong fair is across from Harker's Hollow in Harmony Township. The event started yesterday with the judging of a few varieties of fruits and vegetables, including the special and the unusual.

She has all the makings of a fair queen. An outgoing personality, big brown eyes, a soothing way with animals that can calm the most frantic sheep. But still, Stephanie Baunach is missing something. It's not a crown or a sash. Baunach, the 2010 queen of The Great Allentown Fair, has those. What the 19-year-old farm-loving royal highness from Coopersburg lacks is someone to share her reign. What she's missing is a king. Though the fair brought back its queen competition last year, it doesn't have a king.